The 2024 season has been a Pandora’s box for the drivers. While those at the pinnacle easily secured a seat for 2025, others needed clarification. Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz were among the drivers without a seat for the upcoming season. However, Red Bull extended Checo’s contract, fixing his spot until 2026.
However, Carlos Sainz, who will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton in 2025, is still exploring options. Earlier, speculations of Red Bull swapping Sainz with Perez were trending all across the platform. However, a recent revelation clarified that the Spaniard was never in the plan for RBR.
Sergio Perez’s Contract Renewal Was A Certainty Despite Recent Performance Slump
The Ferrari team is slowly improving with its recent performance. It is the only squad to beat Red Bull twice this season. The spotlight is on the latest winner, Charles Leclerc, who broke the home-track curse to win the Monaco GP. However, Carlos Sainz was the protagonist in the Australian GP triumph. While Max Verstappen was forced to retire early due to a technical issue, the Spaniard emerged victorious. Moreover, he has performed incredibly well in recent times. However, given F1’s reputation for unpredictability, the wave of uncertainty swept over Sainz when Ferrari signed Hamilton for the 2025 season. The Spaniard did all it takes to retain his spot, but sadly, he was overlooked. Despite the shock, he kept on performing. On the other hand, Sergio Perez had a mixed season thus far. While the recent Monaco crash is still fresh in everyone’s memory, Checo has proven himself to be better than that. However, a string of shoddy performances made plenty of room for speculation. The rumors flew through the paddock, suggesting Carlos Sainz could be Max Verstappen’s partner.
The former Red Bull engineer Daniel Drury decoded why Sainz was never an option for the Austrian squad. He wrote on his Twitter account addressing the rumors of Sainz’s Red Bull entry. He said the fans had forgotten the tension between Carlos Sainz Sr. and Jos Verstappen. Carlos’s and Max’s fathers were teammates in Toro Rosso, sharing an intense rivalry. Sainz also started his career with Toro Rosso alongside Max Verstappen. However, Max was transferred to the Red Bull team while Sainz was sidelined. Similarly, F1 pundit Simon Lazenby suggested the exact reason for Sainz not being a Red Bull option. Given their fathers’ past rivalry, he mentioned that managing both drivers would have been a headache for RBR management.
Max Verstappen Uncertain About Canada GP Outcome
During a recent media encounter, Verstappen expressed anxiety over the upcoming Canada Grand Prix. The three-time world champion believes the RB20’s core flaws might be revealed again at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
He explained that the following weekend is unpredictable due to a fresh surface. Furthermore, he warned that the Canadian Grand Prix may not be the team’s best performance. Nonetheless, the Dutchman is optimistic that the team will do better than Monaco.